I. Thesis: John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, English philosophers during the seventeenth century, both advocate the social contract and natural law but have differing applications of these ideas.
a. Background--‘State of Nature’- state of mankind is anarchic and chaotic. “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it”
b. Background—Historical Context: Glorious Revolution in England-Locke. English Civil War-Hobbes.
II. Hobbes
a. Nature/State of Nature
i. Philosophy that without government, society would be perpetually in the State of Nature. Universal rights for every members of society would lead to conflict. “war of all against all” mentality. “time of Warre”
ii. Competition, Diffidence and Glory, the “three principal causes of quarrel” Condemned to conflict.
iii. Just a theory. Hypothetical. Only a possibility. Locke thought it was actually happening.
b. Natural Law/Freedom
i. In the state of nature the natural right is to preserve freedom because life in that state is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
ii. In actuality, members of society concede their rights in exchange for life.
c. Civil Society/Social Contract and it’s violation
i. Every right is given to the members of society from the king. They can’t break the rules but the king could do anything he wants. Similarly, they cannot get rid of the government for the sole reason that they do not like it.
d. State’s Role
i. To escape the state of nature, build governments and give rights to an individual or a group because the alternative to that government is bound to fail and lead to conflict. Strong central government. Whatever the government says is the way it goes, meaning society is a direct product of whichever government/monarch is in power. Society is a reflection of the monarch.
e. Works to Use
i. Leviathan (1660)- deals with legitimate governments and society. He supports a strong centralized government that would hopefully avoid any potential for civil war/social unrest.
III. Locke
a. Nature/State of Nature
i. By nature, men are social ‘animals.’ State of Nature is feasible and actually exists in societies without a legitimate government. “The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it.” Violent conflicts can be ended by the imposition of justice.
b. Natural Law/Freedom
i. Right to life, liberty and property-inalienable rights. Like Hobbes, Locke thought that most rights were part of a deal or arrangement between the government and the people but unlike Hobbes, he specified three inalienable rights.
ii. Humans should know the difference between right and wrong but don’t always act accordingly. Locke thought that if people avoided conflict between, life, liberty, and property, there would be no conflict and that society would exist peacefully.
c. Civil Society/Social Contract and it’s violation
i. Success comes from unifying into some form of government. The only way you can do the worthwhile things in society is by unifying. The only way a group can flourish is if it is in an organized society. However, the government is subject to being replaced if they violate and abuse the natural rights to life, liberty, and poverty. The majority can overthrow the existing government if they are constantly failing to uphold their end of the contract. Their mishaps have to be repeated and tremendous in order to overthrow them.
ii. People give up their rights in return for protection and justice.
d. Role of the State
i. If a government acts within the boundaries of the implied social contract then it is legitimate. They should ensure that justice is carried out within their reign.
e. Works to Use
i. Two Treatises of Government (1690)-1st refuting the ideas of patriarchalism and the 2nd postulating a theory of civil society based on a social contract and natural rights. ‘State of Nature’
IV. Conclusion—both theorists of natural law and social contract.
a. Hobbes--Because mankind will always be subject to the state of nature and will be inevitably blind to the difference between, good/evil, peace/war, the only way they can survive is by the subjugation to an absolute ruler. Unlimited central power is necessary to avoid conflict.
b. Locke--Society should act peacefully if no violations to life, liberty, and property are pursued. The government should seek out justice in all affairs which will prevent future conflict.
a. Background--‘State of Nature’- state of mankind is anarchic and chaotic. “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it”
b. Background—Historical Context: Glorious Revolution in England-Locke. English Civil War-Hobbes.
II. Hobbes
a. Nature/State of Nature
i. Philosophy that without government, society would be perpetually in the State of Nature. Universal rights for every members of society would lead to conflict. “war of all against all” mentality. “time of Warre”
ii. Competition, Diffidence and Glory, the “three principal causes of quarrel” Condemned to conflict.
iii. Just a theory. Hypothetical. Only a possibility. Locke thought it was actually happening.
b. Natural Law/Freedom
i. In the state of nature the natural right is to preserve freedom because life in that state is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
ii. In actuality, members of society concede their rights in exchange for life.
c. Civil Society/Social Contract and it’s violation
i. Every right is given to the members of society from the king. They can’t break the rules but the king could do anything he wants. Similarly, they cannot get rid of the government for the sole reason that they do not like it.
d. State’s Role
i. To escape the state of nature, build governments and give rights to an individual or a group because the alternative to that government is bound to fail and lead to conflict. Strong central government. Whatever the government says is the way it goes, meaning society is a direct product of whichever government/monarch is in power. Society is a reflection of the monarch.
e. Works to Use
i. Leviathan (1660)- deals with legitimate governments and society. He supports a strong centralized government that would hopefully avoid any potential for civil war/social unrest.
III. Locke
a. Nature/State of Nature
i. By nature, men are social ‘animals.’ State of Nature is feasible and actually exists in societies without a legitimate government. “The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it.” Violent conflicts can be ended by the imposition of justice.
b. Natural Law/Freedom
i. Right to life, liberty and property-inalienable rights. Like Hobbes, Locke thought that most rights were part of a deal or arrangement between the government and the people but unlike Hobbes, he specified three inalienable rights.
ii. Humans should know the difference between right and wrong but don’t always act accordingly. Locke thought that if people avoided conflict between, life, liberty, and property, there would be no conflict and that society would exist peacefully.
c. Civil Society/Social Contract and it’s violation
i. Success comes from unifying into some form of government. The only way you can do the worthwhile things in society is by unifying. The only way a group can flourish is if it is in an organized society. However, the government is subject to being replaced if they violate and abuse the natural rights to life, liberty, and poverty. The majority can overthrow the existing government if they are constantly failing to uphold their end of the contract. Their mishaps have to be repeated and tremendous in order to overthrow them.
ii. People give up their rights in return for protection and justice.
d. Role of the State
i. If a government acts within the boundaries of the implied social contract then it is legitimate. They should ensure that justice is carried out within their reign.
e. Works to Use
i. Two Treatises of Government (1690)-1st refuting the ideas of patriarchalism and the 2nd postulating a theory of civil society based on a social contract and natural rights. ‘State of Nature’
IV. Conclusion—both theorists of natural law and social contract.
a. Hobbes--Because mankind will always be subject to the state of nature and will be inevitably blind to the difference between, good/evil, peace/war, the only way they can survive is by the subjugation to an absolute ruler. Unlimited central power is necessary to avoid conflict.
b. Locke--Society should act peacefully if no violations to life, liberty, and property are pursued. The government should seek out justice in all affairs which will prevent future conflict.